Effects of Fusarium Toxin Contaminated Wheat and of a Detoxifying Agent on Performance of Growing Bulls, on Nutrient Digestibility in Wethers and on the Carry Over of Zearalenone

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to examine the effects of a Fusarium contaminated wheat (10 mg deoxynivalenol and 0.76 mg zearalenone, ZON, per kg dry matter) and of a detoxifying agent (Mycofix Plus, Biomin GmbH, Herzogenburg, Austria) on the growing performance of bulls, carry-over of ZON and its metabolites into body fluids and tissues, and on nutrient digestibility in wethers. The experiments were designed according to a complete two by two factorial approach which meant that both the uncontaminated control wheat and the Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat were tested both in the absence and presence of Mycofix Plus. The growing experiment with bulls (n = 14 per treatment) covered the live weight range between 244 kg and 460 kg. The respective wheat batches were included in the concentrate portion at 65%. Concentrates were fed according to plan whereas maize silage was offered for ad libitum consumption. Daily dry matter intake and live weight gain [kg per animal and day] were 7.40, 7.52, 7.51 and 7.49 and 1.367, 1.296, 1.380 and 1.307 for bulls fed the unsupplemented control wheat, the supplemented control wheat, the unsupplemented and Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat and the supplemented Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat, respectively. ZON and its metabolites were not detected in edible tissues. The most striking effects of feeding the Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat on carcass characteristics were a reduced dressing percentage, an increased weight of the emptied gastro-intestinal tract and a reduced weight of the testicles. No effect of the detoxifying agent was seen for these parameters whereas heart weight increased independently of Fusarium toxin contamination of the concentrates. Nutrient digestibility of the two wheat batches, unsupplemented or supplemented with Mycofix Plus was evaluated according to the difference method using wethers. Presence of Fusarium toxins in wheat did not influence its feeding value. The effects of the addition of the detoxifying agent were mycotoxin unspecific and resulted in an increase in apparent digestibility of crude protein and a decrease in crude fiber digestibility. It is concluded that feeding of Fusarium toxin contaminated wheat did not adversely affect performance of growing bulls (approximately 2.2 mg DON and 0.1 mg ZON per kg complete ration at a reference dry matter content of 88%) or nutrient digestibility in wethers. The effects of the detoxifying agent Mycofix Plus on growing performance and on nutrient digestibility were rather Fusarium toxin unspecific. The slightly negative effects on growing performance needs to be examined further.

Effects of <i>Fusarium</i> toxin contaminated wheat grain and of a detoxifying agent on rumen physiological parameters and <i>in sacco</i> dry matter degradation of wheat straw and lucerne hay in wethers

“…Therefore, the recorded changes in wheat straw dry matter degradation were not reflected by rumen physiological parameters and could consequently be of limited importance under practical feeding conditions, which is supported by an unchanged liveweight gain of growing bulls fed the same wheat batches as used in the present study (Danicke et al, 2002).…”

On the effects ofFusariumtoxin-contaminated wheat and the feed intake level on the metabolism and carry over of zearalenone in dairy cows

“…Therefore, it is possible that the recovery of ZON and metabolites at the duodenum might not reflect the real dietary recovery since Biehl et al (1993) showed that ZON and metabolites underlie an extensive enterohepatic cycling in pigs and these substances were also found in bovine bile samples (Meyer et al 2002). Dänicke et al (2002) also reported on ZON, -ZOL and -ZOL concentrations in the bile of growing bulls following feeding with Fusarium-contaminated wheat (0.1 mg ZON kg À1 complete ration). -ZOL, -ZOL and ZON amounted to 68, 8 and 24% of total detected metabolites in bile, which is in agreement with Mirocha et al (1981), who found that 51 and 58% of ZON plus -ZOL plus -ZOL in urine and faeces were -ZOL.…”

Effects of different levels of ergot in concentrates on the growing and slaughtering performance of bulls and on carry-over into edible tissue

“…Dänicke et al (2002) found some effects on carcass composition in a study with 56 HolsteinFriesian bulls after an exposure to mycotoxins (DON and ZON). Similar effects are described in swine and chicken exposed to ergot (Mainka et al 2005b).…”